Putting game



June 21,1938.l .'P A STRE,CH- 2,121,270

PUTTING GAME Fild April es,A 1936 MyW/@141W ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED VSTTES PATENT OFFICE i 2,121,270 v o i il'U'r'rlNG GAME Y PhilipV A. Streich, Oshkosh, wis. Application April e, 193e,l seri'alhN'o.` 72,841

` 1 Claim.

. This invention relates to improvements in putting games.

Heretofore `games similar to golf have ybeen marketed for lawn use, andthese gameshave involved the use of holes `toward which `an `ordinary golf ball is directed by a golf club. The holes are usually so positioned as to provide a putting course embodying nine or more holes,and the scoring is identical to thaty used in the reg- `ulargolf game.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a `putting game, preferably for lawn use, which is a distinct variation from the game as usually played,` due to the fact that equipment of a special form isemployed, thereby changing the manner of playing and the method of scoring.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a putting game wherein the hole structure comprises a main opening toward which the ball is directed, and auxiliary openings or holes within the main opening, the main opening bel ing so formed as to ultimately direct the ball into one of `the auxiliary openings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a putting game embodying a hole structure as above described wherein the auxiliary openings have different values for scoring purposes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide agame embodying a hole structure as above described which eliminates the necessity of digging holes in the lawn and thereby disfguring the same, there being novel means for removably anchoring the hole structure in proper position to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a game including a hole structure wherein the marking flag is employed for removably anchoring the hole structure in position on the lawn.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved putting game and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claim and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a player holding a mallet of the type used in the improved game, and showing a ball being directed toward one of the improved hole structures;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the improved hole structure; and V Fig. 3 is a. Vertical sectional view through the hole structure showing the means for anchoring the same in position.

(el. 27s- 32) y `tionior-,rnirig ,the main opening, and thenumeral 6 designates a circular rim surrounding the cup shaped portionY 5 4and forming` an inclined `run- 5f way accessible from all sides, over which aj ball 'I may pass as it is` being directed toward the main `opening 5. Thehole structure is preferably formed `of metal andis vpreferably.stamped Vin oneipiece so .that the inclined rirn is integral withthe upper edge ofthe cup portion. 4

,Inv the, center of the` cup` portion 5 is a substantially conical projection 8 having -an opening 9,;extendng through its tip. 'I'he standard `lll Qiaae His .adapted .t have. its poiribedf end l2 extending through the hole S and into the ground to thereby anchor the hole structure in proper position to prevent accidental clisplacement thereof. Thus the same member which is used as a standard for the markinglag I I serves the purpose of anchoring the hole struc ture in position.

Surrounding the conical projection 8 are a plurality of openings I3, I4 and I5, preferably three in number, which form auxiliary holes. These holes are of such size as to be capable of trapping the ball I when the latter rolls therein.

The main cup-shaped opening has its bottom suitably dlshed as at I6 to direct the ball towardthe center. When a ball falls into the main hole 5 `it may in rolling toward the center thereof drop directly into one of the auxiliary holes I3, I4 or I5. Sometimes, however,` it will pass through one of the spaces I'l between the auxiliary holes and strike the conical projection 8. The sloping sides of this projection, however, are such that the ball will immediately roll back to eventually fall into one of the auxiliary openings I3, I4 or I5. Thus the entire cup structure 5 is shaped to insure the ball ultimately reposing in one of the auxiliary holes I3, Ill or I5. i

The game may be played in various ways. However, it is preferred to properly position nine or more of the holes in different locations so as to provide a putting course, the holes being suitably anchored in position by the standards of the marking flags, as heretofore described, and these marking flags may bear numerals indicating the order in which the holes are to be played. It is preferred that the player use a mallet I8 which is somewhat similar to a croquet mallet, but which has a somewhat smaller head I9, preferably of streamlined shape provided with an end impact surface 20. The handle 2| is prefpli() erably set into the head at an incline. The game can, of course, be played with an ordinary golf club and golf ball, but by using a mallet somewhat similar to a croquet mallet, older people who are not familiar with the golf method of stroking a ball, may be able to play the game more readily. For this same reason the ball 'l is preferably somewhat larger than a golf ball, but smaller than the usual croquet ball. This ball may be made of wood, hard rubber, or any other suitable material.

The game may be so played that the person taking the fewest strokes to go around the course.r

is the winner. However, in this connection the improved equipment provides for considerable added interest over the ordinary golf method of scoring. The player cannot tell into which of the auxiliary holes I3, I4 or I5 the'ball-will ulti? mately rest. If it falls into the opening I3, one

stroke may be deducted from the players score. If it falls into the opening I4, one'stroke may be added to the players score, and if it falls into the opening I5 marked normal, the conventional scoring is employed. The holes may, of course, be marked in various other manners, the main idea being to attach different value's to the different auxiliary holes. Due to this interesting feature in the scoring, a very entertaining game can be played with but a single hole, but it is, of course, better to lay out a complete course. In addition various hazards may be provided in ad- Vance of the hole structures to make low scoring more diicult.

While the game is more particularly adapted for outdoor or lawn use, it may of course be played in the parlour on a carpet. When so played the marking flags are not used, or the holes may be marked in some other manner.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claim.

What I Vclaim is:

Ahole structure for a putting game comprising a cup-shaped body portion, the bottom of .which is adapted to rest on a playing surface, an

annular rim in connection with the upper peripheral edge of said cup-shaped body, said rim being inclined downwardly into contact-with the playing surface to form an annular pathway for directing a moving ball from the playing surface up into the cup-shaped body, the bottom of said cup-shaped body having a central. projection formed with a hole in its tip, and there being auxiliary openings in said bottom surrounding said projection into one of which a ball is adapted to be directed, said auxiliary openings having diierent values for scoring purposes, a stake extending through said hole in the tip of the projection and into the playing surface to removably anchor the structure in position, said central projection being formed with sloping sides to direct the ball away from the stake and into one of the auxiliary openings, the upper end of said anchoring stake projecting substantially above the cup, and a marking flag carried by the upper end of said anchoring stake.

PHILIP A. STREICH. 

